Quitting Xanax: Withdrawal Symptoms and Timeline

What are the withdrawal symptoms of Xanax?

Symptoms of Xanax withdrawal include both physical and mental pain. Headaches, vomiting, sweating, shaking, muscle pain and insomnia may be accompanied by anxiety and panic attacks. Due to these symptoms, the withdrawal process may put a strain on personal relationships.

How long does Xanax withdrawal last?

The Xanax withdrawal timeline begins very rapidly but also fades away relatively quickly. Withdrawal begins within 6 hours of quitting, and typically peaks within the first few days. In most cases, the worst of the symptoms completely dissipates within a week, though some may experience symptoms for up to two weeks.

About Xanax

Xanax is a drug primarily used for treating anxiety, depression and panic attacks. It can come as either a capsule or a bar. Effects are very fast-acting following ingestion. As one of the most addictive prescription drugs, Xanax abuse is extremely dangerous. Therefore, it cannot be used without a prescription. However, despite this and its adverse effects, Xanax abuse is not uncommon.

Xanax is a benzodiazepine, which is a group of drugs that reduces over-activity in the brain and central nervous system. Xanax is one of the most popular and most commonly prescribed benzodiazepine in America. Unfortunately, benzodiazepine abuse is also the cause of close to 10% of pharmaceutically related emergency department visits. The reason for this widespread abuse is the fact that Xanax activates the pleasure cells in the brain, making users simply feel good. Therefore, it is often misused for its calming effect. It is most often prescribed to help people sleep, help anxiety and panic disorders, as a muscle relaxant and to relieve stress and tension.

The medication affects cognitive functions (memory, attention, thinking, speech) and motor skills. Those who abuse Xanax do so mainly for the effect that it has on the brain activating the pleasure centers, which in turn gives users a sense of happiness, euphoria, and calmness.

Because Xanax is so highly addictive, the symptoms of withdrawal can be very dramatic and dangerous.

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Why is it so addictive?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that prescribing Xanax can lead to dependence, especially if the patient is taking large doses for over a month. That is the risk when Xanax is used according to doctors’ guidelines, but when abuse occurs, the risk is even greater. It is so highly addictive due to its influence on the production of GABA (inhibitory neuron gamma-aminobutyric acid) which mutates our brain’s natural reaction to stress, slowing it down and sedating the brain.

This is a great feature of the drug and the reason why it is prescribed for example to fight anxiety. However, what has been discovered is that with prolonged use, Xanax may actually start affecting how our brain produces GABA on its own. Over time our brain may not be able to produce it at all without the drugs’ help. This is why many people experience withdrawal when Xanax starts leaving their system, because their brain can no longer do what it’s meant to, and successfully complete its calming process and restore balance. This is why it may be dangerous to attempt coming off of long-term Xanax use without medical supervision. In some cases, it may be life-threatening.

Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms

As we’ve explained, Xanax is meant to relax the body, slow everything down and calm us. In technical terms, Xanax is a central nervous system depressant which means it slows down the heart rate, lowers our body temperature and our blood pressure as well as relieves panic, anxiety, and stress. It is also important to note that Xanax has been known to help with seizures. Now imagine the reversal of all that, and you will have a broad idea of what Xanax withdrawal symptoms look like. All those functions rebound. One may experience fevers, heart palpitations, sped up respiration, possible seizures that can cause comas. In the most extreme and abrupt cases, Xanax withdrawal can even cause death.

Xanax is a drug with a very short half-life. This means that the body can process it rather quickly and that the withdrawal symptoms become apparent very quickly after use ends. Symptoms of withdrawal may begin as early as six hours after the last dose, and within two days the drug will completely have left the body.

Panic and anxiety attacks are common among Xanax abusers attempting to fight their addiction. As a result, people dealing with Xanax withdrawal are often lethargic and may develop depression.

This grueling withdrawal process may also take a toll on personal relationships. Individuals battling withdrawal symptoms often become disconnected from their friends and family and stop going to work because of their lethargy and depression.

Physical withdrawal symptoms of Xanax include:

Headaches

Vomiting

Sweating

Insomnia

Muscle pain

Seizures

Shaking

Diarrhea

High blood pressure

High heart rate

Loss of appetite

Numb fingers

Respiration problems

Teeth pain

Nausea

Sensitivity to light

Sensitivity to sound

Muscle cramps

Factors that can affect Xanax withdrawal are:

Age

Height

Weight

History of mental illness

Physical condition

Other health problems

Dosage of the medicine

Xanax Withdrawal Timeline

Withdrawal symptoms kick in very rapidly, but they also fade away relatively quickly.

Due to this fact, withdrawal symptoms can be felt the minute the drug stops being active. This can be anywhere from 6-12 hours after the last dose. Throughout the first 1-4 days you experience the “boomerang” symptoms, where everything you took Xanax to suppress comes back with a vengeance. The next phase of withdrawal can last anywhere from a couple days to a month but usually averages at about two weeks. This is the acute withdrawal, where all symptoms can occur. After the two week mark, most symptoms will start to get better.

For most, the worst will have past, but some may still experience what is called protracted withdrawal. It consists of prolonged impairments, including intense drug cravings and some psychiatric symptoms. This can last anywhere from weeks to years if left untreated.

In most cases, the worst symptoms completely dissipate within a week, though some may experience symptoms for up to two weeks. In a few rare instances, symptoms may last up to 2 years as part of the PAWS syndrome of prolonged withdrawal.

Users who took Xanax for a longer period, and especially those who were taking larger doses, often suffer more severe withdrawal symptoms.

Recovery from Xanax Withdrawal

Due to the possibility of adverse Xanax withdrawal symptoms, breaking an addiction from the drug should be carefully monitored. Quitting “cold turkey” is not recommended because it can cause grand mal seizures, which may be fatal. Heart rate, breathing and blood pressure should also be monitored.

Needless to say, a hospital or a detox center is the best and safest solution, where the patient can gradually get clean without facing life-threatening issues or long-term damage.

Xanax Detox Centers

Due to the severity of Xanax withdrawal symptoms, it is wise to not attempt this feat alone.The medical community is in agreement that the safest and best way to conduct a Xanax detox is through the joint efforts of slowly weaning off the drug and therapeutic methods.This is best done in a professional environment, with constant monitoring so that medical help can be administered when needed. That is where Xanax detox Centers come into play. Not only can they offer the medical assistance often needed, but they can also provide the emotional support necessary throughout this difficult time. When a Xanax detox is planned out and scheduled by a medical health professional over a long period of time the majority of the severe symptoms can be avoided.

There are many options of how to successfully wean off Xanax. A longer-acting benzodiazepine such as Valium may be swapped to help curb cravings and withdrawal until the drug has completely left the system. Additional medication such as beta-blockers or antidepressants may be prescribed as well, to help with some more symptoms.

All of the above-mentioned options paired with therapy sessions give you the best chance for a successful Xanax detox. In therapy, you will learn a variety of mechanisms and skills to help cope following the initial physical detox. A tool often used is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, where you learn the correlation between your thoughts and actions allowing you to create new and healthy habits.

It is imperative that you take care of your general health during this process, especially since often people experience a change in appetite or weight loss during the detox process. Clean eating and exercise are important for a well-rounded recovery.

Conclusion

Overall, Xanax is one of the most addictive prescription drugs and can cause serious damage to a person’s physical and mental health. The withdrawal symptoms of Xanax are very severe, and can even be life-threatening if not treated correctly.

Quitting “cold turkey” should not be attempted because doing so can cause potentially fatal seizures. The best way to manage Xanax withdrawal is to seek professional help.

Comments 3

I have been prescribed xanax for most of my life for an extreme anxiety disorder. At several times I was prescribed 120 2mg bars a month and I always got to the point of talking more than prescribed and running out early. Every single time this happened I suffered several grand-mal seizures that caused bilateral shoulder dislocations, traumatic brain injury caused when falling on my face at the onset of the seizures and subsequent loss of my front teeth. EMTs and hospitalization were necessary to save my life. Extreme caution should be used to come off benzos! The long term pain and injury can and will turn life upside down if not kill you. My sincere prayers of well-being go out to all those suffering and also family members of those suffering. May God bless you and comfort you through this most challenging time

I have taking Xanax for over 7 years now and have asked my Doctor to please get me off of it cause it hasn’t helped me in years. He would just up my dose until I was taking 2 mg 3 times a day. I recently stopped taking it cold Turkey. This is the end of my first week without Xanax… The withdrawals are terrible..I feel such tightening in my muscles and just hurt all over…When will it stop…

I’m on xanxa I need help trying to get off of them I have been on them for years my Dr trying to stop me cold I was getting 90a month and she got me down to one a day but I take more and they don’t last me till I go back I end up in the er I can’t stop it on my own help